Director, Distribution Excellence

Director, Distribution Excellence

Location: Hybrid – Kingston, Toronto or Montreal

Empire Life is seeking a Director, Distribution Excellence, to join its Individual Markets Distribution team. We are actively accepting applications to fill a vacant position.

The person in this role is responsible for promoting training and development, sales support, distribution practices, and the effective implementation of digital support events and initiatives. This management position aims to enhance the skills, knowledge, and overall efficiency of Empire Life's Distribution team, support our various partners, and ensure alignment with the company's objectives. The Director will lead the team responsible for fostering continuous learning, supporting internal sales teams, offering top-tier programs to advisors, implementing best practices, and deploying innovative digital solutions. This person reports directly to the Vice President, Distribution, Individual Markets. Why Apply

Our Mission: Provide intelligent expertise and solutions to help Canadians advance in life with confidence.

The Opportunity: Collaborate with cross-functional teams and work on diverse projects that will keep you engaged and learning constantly.

Hold a Central Position: Leverage your expertise and vision to achieve significant results and shape your sector by your ... and innovate at the highest level: we welcome dynamic leaders who bring fresh perspectives and cutting-edge practices to guide our strategic trajectory.

Your Responsibilities

Sales Support and Training

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic training and continuous learning initiatives for internal teams and external partners, using cutting-edge systems and online learning platforms to enhance the skills of stakeholders in sales strategies, compliance, and digital culture
• Implement a data-driven training approach, conducting thorough performance evaluations to measure its impact and continuously refine programs for better operational results
• Serve as the central reference person for change management and strategic account management within Distribution, Individual Markets, ensuring that all sales support initiatives align with organizational goals and foster an agile, high-performance growth culture

Distribution Practices

• Provide strategic leadership in the design and implementation of profitable compliance and risk management frameworks that comply with regulatory standards and preserve the organization's reputation
• Develop and implement reliable monitoring tools and reporting systems to track distribution practices, ensuring that evolving regulatory requirements are identified and promptly integrated across the network

Events and Digital Support

• Lead the end-to-end planning and implementation of large-scale business development initiatives, including advisor recognition activities, committee meetings, and workshops, to strengthen relationships with both internal teams and external distribution partners
• Oversee the communication and digital strategy of Distribution, Individual Markets, including customer relationship management platforms and portals for advisors, to enhance our competitive positioning, improve customer engagement, and ensure stakeholders have access to the latest resources
• Establish, lead, and manage a diverse and highly performing team in the areas of training, coaching, compliance, events, and digital support, fostering a collaborative culture that delivers exceptional operational results

Strategic Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with leadership to define strategic objectives and foster cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that training, digital support, and risk management initiatives are fully integrated with the company's goals and sales targets
• Serve as the primary performance tracking officer, providing comprehensive reports and actionable analytics on distribution practices, training effectiveness, and global sales support initiatives

What We're Looking For

• Ten years or more of leadership experience in the insurance/financial services sector
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, education, or a related field. Advanced degree, an asset
• Proven expertise in sales practices, training, and distribution management
• Strong knowledge of regulatory processes and compliance in the insurance and financial services sectors
• Exceptional leadership and coaching skills
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency in digital tools, customer relationship management platforms, and presentation software
• Strong change management skills, with proven experience in implementing new processes and digital tools
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
• Successful completion of the Personal Insurance Qualification Program (PIQP) and FLMI designation: assets
• Bilingualism: a major asset
• If you are applying for a position open to candidates across Canada, proficiency in English is required when communicating with clients, advisors, or staff across Canada, unless otherwise stated in the job posting.
• *Our hiring process includes an AI keyword and minimum qualifications check. Recruiters review all results.*

Employment Conditions

• Hybrid employment involving frequent travel to attend events and deliver in-person training sessions
• Some flexibility is required to work extended hours during projects and events.
• Beyond the Salary

For full-time permanent positions, Empire Life offers a comprehensive range of benefits including:

• A hybrid work model
• Competitive salaries with annual salary increases
• An annual performance bonus program, which rewards exceptional company performance and individual contributions, for non-sales team positions
• Access to learning and development programs, and tuition reimbursement (depending on the position) to support your professional development and career progression
• A non-capped, competitive commission for sales team positions
• A complete employer-funded benefits package available on day one, which includes life insurance, supplemental health insurance, dental insurance, and a generous health spending account
• Flexible work arrangements and an annual personal days/illness leave allowance
• Four weeks of annual vacation upon hire
• A defined benefit pension plan with generous employer matching contributions
• Additional programs for parental and compassionate leave
• Employer-offered wellness and recognition programs
• A referral program for candidates and candidates offering compensation

Learn more about working at Empire Life at https://www.empire.ca/en/workatempire.

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